"Moreover, once Gu Zheng is exposed, he will no longer have time to bother you or pester you."
It would be a lie to say that Xia Ran wasn't tempted when she heard this.
After all, what he wants most right now is to get rid of Gu Zheng and keep his distance from him.
But in the end, he thought of Gu Chen, and Aunt Gu and the others.
Although he also hated Aunt Gu and the others for lying to Gu Zheng with him, perhaps the kindness they showed him at times was genuine.
Xia Ran truly couldn't bear to see Gu Zheng's reputation ruined, as many others would suffer as a result.
"No need, Dr. Lin, I... let's leave it at that. Anyway, they can't affect my life."
Lin Ziming was not surprised at all by Xia Ran's answer; in fact, it was within his expectations.
Someone like Xia Ran is certainly incapable of doing anything to ruin Gu Zheng's reputation.
However, he is not Xia Ran; he is capable of doing such a thing.
"Alright, that's your problem too. You can't just say no. But next time something happens, you have to tell me right away. More people means more solutions. I really treat you and the old man as family, so don't doubt my words."
Xia Ran nodded, "I understand, Dr. Lin, thank you."
"Why call me Dr. Lin? I'm three years older than you. You can call me brother, or just my name. Calling me Dr. Lin is too formal."
“Well… that works too, Lin… Ziming.” Xia Ran changed her words. “Do you have anything else to say?”
Chapter 302 Serious
Hearing that Xia Ran had finally stopped calling him Dr. Lin, Lin Ziming smiled with satisfaction.
"That's all. You go back and keep Grandpa company. I'm going back to my office now. I'll go see the old man again this afternoon."
"good."
Xia Ran nodded and turned around. Lin Ziming waited until Xia Ran entered the ward before turning around and entering the elevator.
As soon as he entered the elevator, he took out his phone and made a call.
"Check what the Gu Group has been up to recently."
The person on the other end responded, and Lin Ziming hung up the phone.
Previously, he only knew that Xia Ran and Gu Zheng had divorced, but he didn't know the specific reasons for their divorce.
However, judging from Xia Ran's reaction just now, Gu Zheng must have seriously injured her.
He might not have known about this before, but now that he does, he can't just ignore it.
After all, the Lin family is known for being extremely protective of its own.
When Aunt Gu arrived, it was already afternoon.
She deliberately chose this time, thinking that the old man would be taking a nap at this time, so that he wouldn't be even angrier if he saw her.
When Xia Ran heard Da Zhuang say that the person knocking on the door was Aunt Gu, she thought for a moment and then took the child out.
It just so happens that there are some things he also wants to talk to Aunt Gu about.
Aunt Gu was carrying two large paper bags. When she saw Xia Ran come out, she quickly smiled, but there was a hint of helplessness in her smile.
"Xiao Ran, I... I hope I didn't disturb you by coming here? Grandpa should be asleep by now, right?"
Xia Ran nodded, then looked at the table Gu Zheng had placed in the hallway, only to find that Gu Zheng was not there.
He looked away and asked Aunt Gu,
"Let's talk over there, I'm afraid of waking Grandpa."
Actually, the soundproofing here is very good, but Xia Ran was still worried that she might wake up her grandfather.
Aunt Gu had no objections and quickly walked towards the rest area, which also served as the smoking area.
Gu Chen remained obediently led by Xia Ran and did not rush towards Aunt Gu upon seeing her.
In his heart, no one could compare to Xia Ran.
Aunt Gu sat down, glanced at the child beside Xia Ran, and said with a smile,
"Xiao Chen, it's been so many days since I last saw your great-aunt. Have you missed her?"
Gu Chen did not answer Aunt Gu immediately, but subconsciously glanced at Xia Ran.
Xia Ran smiled at the child, and then the child answered softly.
"I've thought about it."
Actually, Aunt Gu knew that there wasn't much truth in those words, but she was still quite happy.
“I heard from your eldest uncle that you’re starting kindergarten on Monday, so I bought you a backpack and other things you’ll need for kindergarten. Come and see if you like them.”
Aunt Gu took the contents of the bag out: a blue schoolbag and a blue water bottle.
Upon seeing these items, Xia Ran almost immediately asked Aunt Gu a question.
When did you find out your child was going to kindergarten?
"Yesterday," Aunt Gu said, not noticing anything amiss, and told Xia Ran directly.
Xia Ran's expression turned somewhat unpleasant after hearing this, and she pressed for an answer.
"Yesterday? Around what time was that?"
"What happened this afternoon? Is something wrong?" Aunt Gu finally noticed that Xia Ran's expression was off.
Xia Ran ultimately didn't say it aloud, but simply shook her head and said,
"No. It's good that you came today. The child is going to kindergarten on Monday, and I think it's better for him to stay at home. After all, it's not good for him to stay in the hospital all the time. There are too many viruses in the hospital, and children have weak immune systems, so they are very easy to get sick."
"Little Daddy!" Gu Chen immediately hugged Xia Ran's leg. "Do we really have to go back? Can we not go back? I... can't bear to leave you."
The child's eyes welled up with tears easily, and Xia Ran patted the child's head, saying...
"What's wrong? Have you forgotten what your stepfather told you? Didn't your stepfather say that if you miss your stepfather, you can come here to see him after school? Your stepfather will come to see you when he has time."
“If you’re here, how will you go to kindergarten? Besides, your dad has to take care of your great-grandfather. If he has to take care of you too, he won’t be able to handle it.”
Gu Chen opened his mouth, but ultimately nodded silently.
Aunt Gu: "Well... that's fine too. If the child is willing to go back, then I'll take him back to live there. I'll bring him to see you every day after kindergarten."
"Okay." Xia Ran nodded. "Then come pick up the child this evening. I need to take the child for a check-up later. He Xiu said the child is much better now, but still needs a thorough follow-up examination."
Aunt Gu: "Okay, do you have time? Or should I take the child?"
"I want my stepfather to take me?" Gu Chen said.
Xia Ran: "It's okay, I have time. Grandpa is basically fine now. I'll take him this afternoon. You can come pick up the child later."
"good."
Aunt Gu originally wanted to suggest that she could just stay there and wait, but in the end she didn't dare to say it.
Her main concern was that staying here would upset Xia Ran.
Watching Xia Ran lead the child back to the ward, Aunt Gu could only sigh silently.
If the child were sent back, Gu Zheng would probably have no excuse to continue waiting here.
Aunt Gu hadn't noticed the online public opinion yet, so she had no idea that Gu Zheng had a backup plan.
Xia Ran returned to her room, and Da Zhuang immediately went over to her and asked,
"What? What does that person want with you?"
Xia Ran: "It's nothing. She just came over to talk about sending her child to kindergarten, and I asked her to pick her up that evening."
"By the way, I'm taking the child to He Xiu's for a check-up later, so I'll leave things here with you, Grandpa."
Upon hearing He Xiu's name, Da Zhuang inexplicably felt uneasy again, but he disguised his emotions very well, so much so that even Xia Ran didn't notice.
"What a pain! If you keep being so formal, I'm not letting you off the hook!"
Da Zhuang spoke in a deliberately fierce tone, and Xia Ran smiled at his reaction.
God has been kind to him, giving him such a good friend.
Before long, Xia Ran contacted He Xiu via WeChat and took the child there.
When they arrived at He Xiu's office, He Xiu kept looking behind Xia.
Xia Ran asked, somewhat puzzled, "What are you looking at?"
"Where's Dazhuang? Didn't he come?" He Xiu blurted out.
Xia Ran paused for a moment, looked at He Xiu, and after thinking for a while, couldn't help but ask.
"Dr. He, are you serious about Dazhuang?"
He Xiu looked directly at Xia Ran and said,
"Otherwise what? Do you think I'd be so bored as to ask someone who isn't serious a question repeatedly?"
Chapter 303: To what extent has it developed?
Xia Ran moved her lips, but didn't know what to say.
He Xiu immediately noticed Xia Ran's hesitation and said,
"Actually, Xia Ran, you can't condemn all marriages just because of one bad marriage you had. There's no doubt that I like Dazhuang, and of course, I won't force him."
“I know you’re worried that Dazhuang will follow in your footsteps, but Xia Ran, not everyone is Gu Zheng, and not everyone is yours. You must always believe that better things will happen, and don’t lose faith forever because of one failure.”
Xia Ran fell silent. He was indeed somewhat worried that He Xiu was just playing around.
But looking at He Xiu's expression now, he realized he had been overthinking things.
“Dr. He, Dazhuang has never liked anyone else. I’m not sure if he will like you, but I hope you won’t force him or use any unusual methods.”
"If you really like him, you can take things slowly and try to make him like you back."
He Xiu: "Of course, if I really wanted to force him, things wouldn't be like this between us now."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Take the child for a check-up first, I have another patient to see later."